Arch support



Aug 1937. H. E. REINEKE 2,089,910

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 19, 1936 Patented Aug.- 10, 1937 UNITED STATSPATENT OFFICE ARCH SUPPORT Helen E. Reineke, Faribault, Minn.

Application December 19, 1936, Serial No. 116,812

4 Claims. (CI. 3671) This invention relates to an arch support for afoot.

The invention has for itsobject to provide in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a support of the class referred to which when used possessesa massaging characteristic; strengthens the arch muscles of the foot dueto its massaging characteristic; stimulates circulation which helps tofeed and build stronger muscles; gives the necessary support in cases ofWeak foot muscles and fallen arches; is easy and comfortable to wear;eliminates congestion of blood flow in the foot and is capable of beingbuilt to properly fit an individual case of foot ailment.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an arch support for the purpose referred to whichis simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable,resilient, thoroughly efficient when used, readily assembled andcomparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and are asillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variationsand modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the arch support as appliedto the simulation of the foot, the latter being shown in side elevation,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arch support partly broken away,

Figure 3 is an inverted plan of the arch support partly broken away,

Figure 4 is a view looking towards the inner side edge of the archsupport,

Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a view on line 66, Figure 2, on reduced scale,

' Figure 7 is an inverted plan view of the upper section of the archsupport and further illustrates the intermediate section of the archsupport applied to the lower face of the upper section,

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the bottom section of the arch support,and

Figure 9 is a top plan View of the form of insertable lift employed.

The arch support includes a top, an intermediate and a bottom sectiongenerally indicated at I, 2 and 3 respectively. The sections I and 3 arepreferably formed from kid leather. The section 2 consists of spongerubber. The section I consists of a body part 4 and a foldable flap 5extending from the inner edge of body part 4 intermediate the ends ofthe latter. Body part 4 of section I has its edges conforming in contourto the edges of section 3. The latter includes a straight outer edge 6slightly inclined outwardly from front to rear, a rounded rear edge 1,an inner side edge 8 of ogee curvature and a curved forward edge 9. Theedge 9 is of greater length than the edge I. The forward portion ofsection 3 is of greater width than the rear portion.

The section 2 has its edges conforming in contour to the edges ofsections I and 3 but the length and width of section 2 is slightly lessthan the length and width of either section I or 3. The section 2 hasits edges positioned inwardly adjacent to the edges of the sections Iand 3, whereby sections I and 3 are formed with marginal portions I0, IIrespectively, arranged outwardly adjacent the edges of the section 2.The latter is formed of a rear portion I2, a front portion I3, and anintermediate portion having a reduced part I4 and an enlarged part I5which is of segmental contour in longitudinal section and substantiallyof segmental contour in transverse section. The part I5 in top plan issubstantially semi-oval in contour. The part I4- borders the outer sideedges of the sections I and 3. The part I5 merges into the inner side ofthe part I4, into the forward end of the portion I2 and rear end of theportion I3. The part I4 merges into the portions I2 and I3. The part I5is formed with a circular row of spaced upstanding ports I6.

The flap 5 is bent inwardly to oppose the bottom of the part I5 and isinterposed between said part I5 and section 3. The flap 5 is ofsubstantially oval-shaped contour and is formed with a row of openings Hwhich align with the inner ends of the ports I6. The section I is formedwith a series of openings IB which align with the outer ends of theports I6.

The marginal portions I0 and II of the sections I and 2 are securedtogether by a row of stitching I9. Sections I and 3 and flap 5 aresecured together by a row of stitching 20. The row of stitching I9 hasits ends terminate in proximity to the ends of the row of stitching 20whereby a portion of the section 3 is free of connection to the flap andsection I and such portion, indicated at 2|, coacts with the flap 5 toprovide a pocket 22 opening at the inner side of the arch support andarranged at the bottom of the latter.

The flap 5 in connection with the portion 23 of the section I forms achamber 24 for the enlarged part 15 of the section 2. The bend 25 of theflap 5 provides the intermediate portion of the side edge of the sectionl.

The pocket 22 is employed for inserting lifts 25 of the form shown inFigure 9 for fitting purposes.

The part iii of the section 2 provides the metatarsal support andfunctions not only longitudinally but transversely in such connection.

The portions i2, i3 and M of the section 2 preferably will'be one-eighthof an inch in height whereby the part 15 of section 2 will have itsheight as desired.

The ports l6 and openings H, l8 provide for the needed ventilation. Thesection 2 provides for the massaging function when the arch support isused.

With reference to Figure 1 the simulation of a foot is indicated at 2'?and which is applied thereto the arch support in accordance withthisinvention and is indicated generally at 28.

What I claim is:

1. An arch support comprising top, bottom and intermediate sections,said top and bottom sections being formed of bendable material, saidintermediate section being formed of resilient material, saidintermediate section intermediate its ends having a portion of greaterthickness than its remaining portion, the said remaining portion of saidintermediate section being interposed between said other sections, saidtop section being formed with a bendable flap extending inwardly tooppose the bottom of said portion of greater thickness whereby the.latter isspaced from the bottom section, means for securing saidinturned flap to the top and bottom sections whereby a portion of thebottom section is freed from said intermediate section and provides inconnection with the flap a pocket for inserts, and means for securingthe top and bottom sections together adjacent the edges of the saidremaining portion of the intermediate section.

2. An arch support comprising top, bottom and intermediate sections,said top and bottom sections being formed of bendable material, saidintermediate section being formed of resilient material, saidintermediate section intermediate its ends having a portion of greaterthickness than its remaining portion, the said remaining portion of saidintermediate section being interposed between said other sections, saidtop section being formed with a bendable flap extending inwardly tooppose the bottom of said portion of greater thickness whereby thelatter is spaced from the bottom section, means for securing saidinturned fiapto the top and bottom sections whereby a porsection, saidintermediate section being enlarged intermediate its ends, saidenlargement disposed lengthwise and transversely with respect to the topand bottom sections and terminating at one end adjacent the outer sideedges of said sections and having its other end substantially flush withthe inner side edges of the top and bottom sec tions, said enlargementbeing of segmental contour in longitudinal section and sloping from oneend towards its other, said top section being formed at its inner sidewith an integral flap positioned against the lower face of saidenlargement, means for securing said flap to the said section, saidmeans being so disposed relative to said sections to provide a part ofthe bottom section free of connection to the other sections and withsaid part coacting with said flap to provide a pocket, and means forsecuring said top and bottom sections together outwardly adjacent theedge of the intermediate section.

4. An arch support comprising bendable top and bottom sections and aresilient intermediate section, said intermediate section being enlargedintermediate its ends, said enlargement disposed lengthwise andtransversely with respect to the top and bottom sections and terminatingat one end adjacent the outer side edges of said sections and having itsother end substantially flush with the inner side edges of the top andbottom sections, said enlargement being of segmental contour inlongitudinal section and sloping from one end towards its other, saidtop section being formed at its inner side with an integral flappositioned against the lower face of said enlargement, means forsecuring said flap to the said sections, said means being so disposedrelative to said sections to provide a part of the bottom section freeof connection to the other sections and with said part coacting withsaid flap to provide a pocket, and means for securing said top andbottom sections together outwardly adjacent the edge of the intermediatesection, said enlargement being formed with a series of ports, and saidtop and flap having openings registering with said ports.

HELEN E. REINEKE.

